The Kansas City Chiefs have lost another starter from their Super Bowl LIV team in free agency.
On Thursday evening, offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski announced on Twitter that he would sign with his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to the Kansas City Star’s Herbie Teope, the contract with the Steelers will be for two years. That should at least bode well for the Chiefs earning another compensatory pick.
Wisniewski was a pivotal presence for Kansas City during the 2019 season, providing veteran leadership with a championship pedigree. He was added to the Chiefs’ roster nearly halfway through the 2019 season, joining the team just ahead of Week 6. He spent his first four weeks getting up to speed before getting his first significant snaps.
Wisniewski played 41 offensive snaps in Week 10, filling in for multiple injured players on the offensive line. Eventually, he’d take over at the left guard spot in place of the injured Andrew Wylie, starting the final two games of the regular season heading into the playoffs. Wisniewski was a key piece in the Chiefs’ postseason run, starting in all three games, including Super Bowl LIV. He provided a mauler in the run game and a savvy mindset in pass protection.
In the two of the past three seasons, Wisniewski has earned a Super Bowl ring, once with the Chiefs and once with the Eagles. Kansas City will have a hard time replacing his presence in the locker room and on the football field, but this is what happens when you have a championship team. Hopefully, Brett Veach will continue to work to retain others from the championship that remain available, such as Bashaud Breeland and Mike Pennel.
